Texas A&M notebook: Sumlin's practices have Ags amped up

Updated 9:45 pm, Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Photo: Brett Coomer

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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin poses for a portrait with the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Houston. Sumlin, the former University of Houston head coach, is a finalist for the 2011 college football coach of the year. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin poses for a portrait with the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Houston. Sumlin, the former University of Houston head coach, is a finalist for the 2011

Newly appointed Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, right, receives the traditional maroon blazer from Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne during a news conference officially introducing Sumlin as the NCAA football team's new coach on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Sumlin was hired to replace Mike Sherman who was fired two days earlier after a disappointing 6-6 season. (AP Photo/Bryan-College Station Eagle, Dave McDermand)

Newly-appointed Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin speaks during a news conference officially introducing him as the NCAA college football team's new coach on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Sumlin was hired to replace Mike Sherman who was fired two days earlier after a disappointing 6-6 season. (AP Photo/Bryan-College Station Eagle, Dave McDermand)

COLLEGE STATION - The voice rose above the din of Texas A&M's football drills, in perfect pitch with Jason Aldean's "Tattoos on This Town" blaring over four massive speakers lining the Coolidge practice fields.

For good measure, the Aggies' Dustin Harris, who knew every rollicking word of the Aldean anthem, threw in a few strums of air guitar before dropping into a cornerback's stance and grooving along with the next drill.

If the country crooner Aldean wasn't to everyone's liking during practice - and he wasn't - Eminem's "Not Afraid" was up next on the playlist, one of a heavy dose of rap offerings along Wellborn Road and the railroad tracks in a locale best known musically for the patriotic strains of the Aggie Band.

"It's enjoyable," senior linebacker Jonathan Stewart said of listening to music - loud music - throughout every practice. "It's different, but it gets more of a vibe going during practice. And when you get tired, music is a motivation."

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The No. 21 Aggies put their 13-match winning streak on the line Thursday in Waco when they face No. 12 Baylor in a Big 12 tilt. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the Hurd Tennis Center. A&amp;M (13-1, 4-0) has lost its last dozen meetings against the Lady Bears, who have won the last seven Big 12 regular-season titles.

The No. 9 Aggies play host to Oklahoma starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in a three-game series pushed up a day because of Easter Sunday. A&amp;M (23-6, 4-2) is in third place in the early Big 12 race, while the Sooners (18-11, 4-5) are in fifth. The Aggies are playing their third consecutive Big 12 series at Blue Bell Park to start league play.

The series is tied at 27 wins each since the programs became conference foes in 1997.

"And we won 13 games," he said, smiling.

There's a method to the music madness, with the idea that it also creates confusion on the field and helps players learn to communicate better in what Sumlin aptly described as the unsterile environment of a football game day. One key figure adjusting to the music is defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

"Maybe I didn't hear it because the music was playing, but you want to hear communication out there so everybody is on the same page," Snyder said following the first day of practice in regard to what his defense needed to work on early.

As for the wide-ranging selections?

"That's coach Sumlin's iPod," said offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was with Sumlin at UH. "He does a good job with those."

'Whatever works ...'

Meanwhile, Billy Pickard, a retired facilities manager who's been around A&M football since the Bear Bryant days of the mid-1950s, said the music during practice is certainly "different." He added with a smile, "But whatever works …"

Sumlin and Kingsbury certainly vouch for its effectiveness.

"Especially during the dog days of summer, when the players hear a song and they get pumped up instead of there being quiet and a lot of panting going on," Kingsbury said.

There's been plenty of panting, too, over the first few days of practice, as the players adjust not only to the music but the up-tempo pace of the proceedings.

"It's been a shock," senior receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu said of the frenetic repetitions during a Sumlin practice. "But we've adjusted."

Pushing the plays

"The tempo is crazy compared to last year," offensive tackle Luke Joeckel said. "It feels like we're running a hundred plays a minute and trying to wear out the defense."

The good news is both sides have a wide variety of tunes helping push them along.

"The music amps everyone up," Joeckel said.

And offers a closet crooner like Harris, who hails from Livingston, the chance to revel in his country side.